Accelerating cultural changes through innovative procurement processes: a Hong Kong perspective

Abstract

Worldwide , the construction industry has been involved in reviewing its performance and formulating plans for improving that performance. Most of these reviews have called for a culture change within the industry. Despite the culture and market differences between Hong Kong and, say, Europe or the USA, the recommendations emanating from the recent review in Hong Kong bear a striking resemblance to those from the west. While confirming that a major culture change is needed in the global construction industry, the authors develop the thesis that this transformation must be driven from within the industry by strategic changes in procurement practices and procedures. By taking examples from recent research worldwide, the authors identify performance oriented procurement, including improved contractor selection and collaborative working arrangements, as key enablers of culture change.